Federal gas tax would raise price by 12 cents

Federal lawmakers may be taking a page out of Pennsylvania’s book when it comes to finding money to repair the nation’s roads and bridges.

But that also means there will be more money taken out of drivers’ pockets through a possible national gas tax that would add money into the Federal Highway Trust Fund.

Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., have proposed a bill that would raise the price on a gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel by 12 cents, an increase that would be 6 cents in each of the next two years. The current federal tax is 18.4 cents for gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel fuel and has not been raised since 1993. It has been estimated that without some kind of funding, the Federal Highway Trust Fund could run out of money by August.

The plan also calls for offsetting tax increases with other tax cuts. The senators said that could be done by permanently extending six of 50 federal tax breaks that expired this year, but they indicated they would be open to other suggestions.

It’s not a suggestion that many in Delaware County are pleased to hear about, considering that the first installment of Pennsylvania’s state transportation funding bill took effect Jan. 1, with prices going up about 8 cents per gallon. In all, when the state fuel tax and the proposed federal tax go into full effect, it would be an increase of 40 cents per gallon in gas taxes between the end of 2013 the beginning of 2018.

“The situation we find ourselves in with transportation funding is a very difficult one,” said Jenny Robinson, of AAA Mid-Atlantic. “We were already in crisis mode in Pennsylvania and we are also in crisis mode nationally. It puts everyone in a tough position. Nobody wants taxes to go up.

“But there is also the cost of allowing roads to deteriorate. Every state, including Pennsylvania, receives federal funding. They get a percentage of their budget from federal funds.”

It has not been unusual in recent years to see state road and bridge construction projects financed by 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds. But the idea of another gas price increase due to another tax was met with the predicted ire when it was mentioned on the Daily Times Facebook page Thursday.

“Didn’t Governor Corbett, the State House and State Senate already enact a $0.28 per gallon tax to fix PA’s roads?” wrote Raymond Santarelli of Springfield. “Now the US House of Representatives wants to tack on another $0.12? Seriously?”

It was estimated that the new Pennsylvania gas tax would cost the average driver about $2.50 per week.

“The government can’t keep hitting the middle man,” wrote Dawn Pennock on Facebook. “We are heading towards a recession ... people are losing their jobs, homes, etc., and now you want to tax the hell out of gas!!! We pay enough already.”

However, it is also not unusual to hear complaints about roads and wanting them fixed, and that costs money.

“All I hear is people saying how bad our highways are and why don’t they do something to fix them,” wrote Robert Boyle on Facebook. “I don’t know the right solution for Federal Highway repairs. Trucks do the most damage because of their weight.”

“This is a very, very expensive need we have,” Robinson said. “We understand some are opposed to any and all tax increases, but you have to look at what is the responsible thing to do for better and safer transportation in America. It helps facilitate our economy. We need our transportation system to move goods and we need the jobs created by that.”